Remember the days when fairs — the kind with carnival rides, entertainment, food, etc. — were held on Magic Island? The Honolulu Centennial Family Festival, kicking off today from 5 p.m. to midnight and running through Sunday, will jog the memory banks. The World Famous Nock Thrill show — with its daredevil motorcycle high-wire act and 85-foot sway pole acrobats — will entertain. The Purina Incredible Dog Team promises acrobatics of the canine kind. Of course, there's more. For details, visit www.honolulupride.com, or call 440-4146.

— Derek Paiva

SING A SONG OF WAI'ANAE

Songs have been written and sung about Waikiki, Waimanalo, Nanakuli and more. Now's your chance to wax poetic about Wai'anae. Hoike'ike O Wai'anae is looking for original, never-recorded tunes, written in 'olelo Hawai'i, that honor the people, places and happenings of Wai'anae (from Kahi Point to Ka'ena Point). Organizers hope the winning mele will join the ranks of "Ku'u Home O Kahalu'u" as an iconic place-revering song. Entry deadline: July 31. For information, call Kaimi Dung at 696-7998. The winner will be featured at the Hoike'ike O Wai'anae Festival, Sept. 18-23 at the Makaha Resort.

— Wayne Harada

FINAL WORD

" 'Lost!' They're in Hawai'i, filming the greatest show in beautiful weather ... dude, try filming in Chicago in the middle of winter!"

Rockmond dunbar | The "Prison Break" actor on filming that Fox series, in Entertainment Weekly